The cost to society of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland based on 2008/09 prices, is estimated to be £679.8million within a range of £500.8million and £884.4million. The study incorporated a comprehensive literature review which considered existing methodologies of estimating the social cost of alcohol misuse. A number of key themes were examined and a breakdown of the estimates by theme is provided in each section:

Healthcare, in terms of additional visits to GPs, hospital inpatient stays and visits to hospitals as outpatients - estimated cost is £122.2million within a range of £89.8million and £158.0million;

Social work and additional services carried out by Health and Social Care Trusts on community care and children's services - estimated cost is £48.5million within a range of £33.6million and £82.0million;

Public safety, in relation to additional activity by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service - estimated cost is £223.6millon within a range of £167.7million and £279.3million;

Criminal justice, in terms of additional work generated for the Northern Ireland Court Service, Public Prosecution Service, Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission and Northern Ireland Prison Service - estimated cost is £83.8million within a range of £64.4million and £103.6million.

Wider economic costs, including the impact of alcohol misuse on factors such as unemployment and absenteeism - estimated cost is £201.7million within a range of £145.3million and £258.2million.

The research is as robust and evidence-based as the available information allows, but upper and lower limits for each theme have been provided as it is recognised that cost estimates in a number of areas may be subject to a degree of uncertainty.